tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

1st light using my 400mm prime lens. It was early enough before dawn this morning that I never saw the bird until opening the capture on this laptop screen. The only reason I know he was landing is because he is in a following image. Looking forward to learning to use this lens besides point and shoot. (The distance to the birdbath is about 60 yards - about as close as my camera can get to interesting subjects.)

trackmag

Nice shot, Chief.
Ben Hudson, JO2, serving Pearl Harbor Day of 1967 to Labor Day 1971. Grew up in Fort Worth, now living 70 miles southwest of there.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Thank You.
Always envious of the JO rating - they usually knew what was going on by always being involved in command "doings".
You were in a good place during those terrible years of conflict in Vietnam.

trackmag

Three years on staff of COMSUBLANT in Norfolk then a year on Newport News docked in Norfolk on 2nd Fleet staff. Had a good time and met some good guys. Spent four years as an enlisted man although I had a BA degree from TCU before I entered the Navy. I wish every young American could have had the experience that I had. During the three years I was on the CINCLANFLT compound in Norfolk I got the see the band and the Marines raise and lower those flags
every day. You get to know a lot about America when you serve four years in the service and meet some of the great individuals that sacrifice so much of
their lives for this country.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Well my goodness, sitting here typing these notes and looking across town at the TCU stadium and a few other tall buildings on campus. Not long before it will all be lit up with football starting soon.

I agree with your assessment of being in the military! One of my grandson's has just been accepted into a ROTC program at SouthWestTexas State. He needs some discipline and direction, just hope he will absorb all that will be available to learn besides academics while there and during his enlistment in the military.

trackmag

You live in a good place. We moved into Fort Worth in 1955 when I was 12. Graduated from Tech High in 1961 while living on south side of town. Then TCU in 1966. Came back in 1971 after time in Norfolk. Lived in Monticello had had office on West 7th before moving to Morgan Mill in 1998. If I every get old (75 now) I may move back to town but it would be difficult. I get to wake up in the morning in the middle of 150 acres of solitude. Hard to beat that. Let my dog run where he wants to run and have turkey in the back yard this time of year. A dozen horses to visit. And a good woman to visit. Life is good. And so are memories. Thanks for listening.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Well darn, exactly where I came from four years ago to this city. My house was smack dab in the middle of my country property too. Always kept a couple dozen mother cows and a couple pet horses. That was for me and is for you a very great life! Moved here because my wife is losing her eyesight and needed to be much closer to medical facilities. Our place was in Bend Texas, a dozen or two miles west of Lampasas. Out in the middle of nowhere. Moved out there after retiring from a hectic city job and life.